Benefit-sharing dialogue to promote and guide investment decisions in the Sio-Malaba-Malakisi (SMM) transboundary basin, shared between Kenya and Uganda

ABSTRACT

As climate change impacts and competition for water increases, sharing of water resources is becoming a challenging endeavour. This becomes harder in a transboundary setting where a basin is shared by different countries in a region that is 60% arid and semi-arid areas, such as the Horn of Africa where tensions due to water scarcity are high. Stakeholders in the transboundary settings often represent varied interests, drawn from different sectors and levels from local to national to regional scales in the riparian countries. Hence the need for a benefit-sharing dialogue.

KEYWORDS:

• Benefit sharing
• transboundary basin
• investment decisions
• Sio-Malaba-Malakisi basin
• Kenya
• Uganda

Disclosure statement

No potential conflicts of interest are reported by the authors(s).

Notes

1. https://www.portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/resrecrepattach/BRIDGE%205%20flyer.pdf

2. iucn_benefit_sharing_river_basin_management_final_march2021_vs2.pdf

3. Supporting water cooperation between Kenya and Uganda (iucn.org)

4. These benefits stem from improved cross-sectoral coordination around water and land management; and around water, food and energy security.

5. SMM – Draft Situation Report (waterandnature.org)

6. Transboundary benefit-sharing: discussing the opportunities for the Sio-Malaba-Malakisi basin | IUCN

7. smm_4_prioritized_investment_projects_new.pdf (waterandnature.org)

8. report_of_the_second_smm_basin_stakeholders_consultative_workshop_may_2018.pdf (waterlawandgovernance.org)

9. Promoting transboundary benefit sharing: Kenya stakeholders’ consultative dialogue for the Sio-Malaba-Malakisi basin management and development framework | IUCN

10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2mwnd2dabs

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the United States of America (USA) Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES); Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).